Doncic and James did not win the championship in their first season. Is there still a chance to win the championship together?

On May 21, in the history of the NBA, the joint efforts of superstars can often cause a huge change in the league structure, but not every "Galaxy Battleship" can win the O'Brien Cup as it wishes. In the 2024-2025 season, when Luca Doncic and LeBron James, a cross-generational genius teamed up in the Dallas Mavericks, the outside world's expectations for them were directly full. However, the cruel reality of the playoffs poured cold water on the pair - despite leading the team to the Western Conference Finals, they eventually lost to the more mature Denver Nuggets. Now, as James enters the threshold of 40, a realistic question is ahead: Can this young and old matchmaker still seize the fleeting window period and realize his dream of winning?

###1. The tactical contradictions and adjustment space exposed by the first cooperation

The failure of last season was not accidental. Doncic's tactical system as the core of the ball holding system has a clear compatibility problem with James' "one-star" classic model. During the regular season, the two averaged a total of 18.7 minutes per game, ranking first in the league duo, but this data in the playoffs exposed a fatal flaw - when the Nuggets adopted the double-team strategy, the Mavericks' offensive efficiency plummeted to 108.3 points per 100 rounds, a decrease of 6.5 points from the regular season. Coach Kidd's "off-peak lead" plan has been limited in effect. James's receiving shooting percentage on the off-ball end was only 34.1%, setting a career playoff low.

But the lessons of failure are often more precious than successful experiences. Offseason video analysis shows that when Doncic and James are on the court at the same time, the team actually developed the league's top conversion offensive efficiency (1.28 points per round). The key to the problem lies in the role allocation of positional warfare. Zach Lowe, a well-known tactical analyst, pointed out: "If Doncic can launch more attacks in the elbow area, James will transform into a low-level axis, and the lethality of this system will double." In fact, James scored 1.02 points per round last season, which is still better than 89% of the league's players. This under-developed tactical possibility may become a breakthrough point in the new season.

###2. The possibility of James' transformation under the age crisis is undeniable. James will face a more severe physical test in the 2025-2026 season. Sports medicine expert Lisa Alexander predicted based on tracking data: "His explosive movement ability may continue to decline by 8-10%, but his strength and basketball IQ are still at the elite level." This implies that a complete transformation of playing style is imperative - referring to the later stage of Duncan's Spurs career in 2014, when his athletic ability deteriorates, he can still become the champion puzzle by increasing weight to playing the No. 5 position, improving screen quality, and focusing on defensive command.

James' recent training video shows that he is strengthening his catch jump shot and pick-and-roll external bounce skills. The shooting special training with Ray Allen has begun to show results, with the preseason three-point shooting percentage rebounding to 39.2%. What's more important is its role change on the defensive end. Last season's playoffs, when James was defending his opponent's fourth position, the opponent's shooting percentage was suppressed to 41.7%, which proves that he is fully capable of taking on the core defensive responsibility in a specific period like he did during the 2020 Lakers. If the new season can reduce the consumption of ball-holding breakthroughs and allocate more energy to both offense and defense in key rounds, the impact of "aging" may be maximized and diluted.

###3. Management reinforcement and role player evolution

Mavericks General Manager Nick Harrison obviously realized the lineup flaws. The operation of introducing Brooke Lopez in the offseason is a brilliant idea - this space-type fifth position can not only solve the stubborn internal defense (third in the league in the frame protection efficiency last season), but also maintain the three-point shooting percentage above 38%, perfectly adapting to the dual-star system. What is more worthy of attention is the growth of sophomore Derek Lively, whose defense switching ability (limited guard shooting percentage is only 42.1%) has far exceeded Davis' level of the same age. The shooting stability of the

role players also ushered in a turning point. After offseason special training, Tim Hardaway Jr.'s three-point shooting percentage increased to 43.7%; new player Cameron Johnson brought the coveted 3D attributes. These changes point directly to the biggest pain point last season: when Doncic and James attracted double teams, their teammates hit only 35.2% of their three-point shooting percentage, ranking fourth from the bottom among the playoff teams. The upgrade of peripheral firepower now creates a more comfortable offensive environment for the dual stars.

###4. Variable analysis of the competitive landscape in the western region

Changes in competitors also affect the probability of winning the championship. The defending champion Nuggets suffered deep substitute damage after losing Bruce Brown; Suns Durant was one year older; Clippers Leonard's knee was always a time bomb. In contrast, although the youth team Thunder and Pelicans are talented, they lack playoff experience. Under this pattern, the Mavericks' "dual-core drive + high-quality supporting role" model actually shows the stability advantage.

It is worth noting that the new rules of the league protect veterans. The "Back-to-Back Round Rest exemption clause" implemented from 2025 allows players over 35 to take reasonable rest on specific schedules without penalty. This has gained valuable physical buffer space for James, and the load management in the regular season will be more strategic.

###5. The enlightenment and opportunities of historical cases

There are many cases in NBA history where the super combination "missed the championship in the first year" finally realizes its dream. The first year of the Celtics top three in 2008 is an exception. The more common path is the combination of the Heat Three in 2010 and the Raptors Leonard + Lowry in 2019, which all require system reconstruction after failure. Especially in 2016, the Cavaliers strengthened the shooter group against the Warriors' weaknesses after losing in 2015, and finally completed an epic reversal.

For Doncic and James, the failure of last season was like a mirror, which not only reflected the seriousness of compatibility issues, but also reflected the glimmer of adjustment directions.. When James gradually accepted the positioning of the second-in-command by the "Pippen-style" positioning, when Doncic learned to trust his teammates at critical moments, and when the management built a balanced lineup around them, the ultimate form of this combination may truly emerge. On the NBA stage where miracles are frequent, never underestimate the heart of a champion - especially when it beats in the chests of two different generations of basketball geniuses at the same time.